Here is my answers, and the reason that I have started doing all of this in the first place and why I continue to do and what I hope to accomplish.
When I first found out that Kenzie got in an accident, I honestly thought that she was dead. My heart sank and I had no idea what to do. When I found out that she was holding on, the best and only thing I could do was try to be there for my family. This is how I cope with things, I stay busy. When she was in the ICU and we just thought she was going to wake up and be fine. I thought oh my god how are they going to pay for all of this? I thought about doing a fundraiser and I didn't know where to really begin. And then one day I got a facebook message from one of Soni's cousins in Cut Bank wondering if we could do a fundraiser at my cousin Tanyas Bar. This is how the first fundraiser came into play.
As we were getting ready for this fundraiser (about a week before the event) I sat in the ICU and learned that Kenzie was just not going to wake up from this and nothing would be normal again. I completely shut down and it felt like my world fell apart again. I was an emotional wreck and I really did not know how to get up in the mornings sometimes. (I can't even imagine how the rest of the family felt) The night of the fundraiser I was numb, and the love and support from the community of Cut Bank really made me smile and forget about what was happening for a few hours. Then came the Lewistown fundraiser where I basically just attended and watched that awesome community come together for my family. Naomi and Corrie really did an amazing job. Twyla and Nancy are always the first to volunteer with anything and have tried to come to every fundraiser since then. I don't know what I would do without Twyla.
After that things kind of settled down and little by little we heard less from people..or at least I did.
Some where in this time the doctors gave my family the option of letting Kenzie die..not take her off life support, because she was never on life support. Kenzie has been basically breathing on her own. To let Kenzie "go" was to let her starve. Now a lot of people question this decision that Kenzies family made. But I can not imagine watching Kenzie waste away like that. How horrible would that be??
At this time when this was all happening I was wondering what would happen to the life of Kenzie. Would people just forget how amazing she was? How could a 16 year old life just end? How would she be remembered?
That is how the Shake It For Kenzie event started in my mind.
Kenzie loves music. Country music first. But if you see her posts she has a love for all music. This is something I loved about Kenzie. I didn't want Kenzie's memory to go away all together. I think that is a fear most people have of their loved ones passing, is people forgetting.
I thought, I want to do an event where people get to enjoy the summer outdoors and music at the same time. Kenzie loved both and I wanted "Kenzie" to be apart of this. Because after all it was going to have her name in it. I let this "dream" sit in my mind and brew into this event.
I love planning parties. In junior high in my career class, one of my top three dream careers was a party planner (mostly weddings). I always wanted to do a black/white party or masquerade party with my friends. One day I was talking to my friend Ashley and she had told me she had never been to prom in high school. I was shocked. I think everyone should have to experience at least one prom. AND then I thought HEY that would be a great fundraiser. That is how the adult proms started. I did the first one in Roundup because that is where I am from and I knew if nothing else I could get my friends to attend this. We had at least 100 people show up! Not bad for my first year in my opinion. I had other people saying they wished they had that in their town. Now I took business classes in college and if there is a demand for it I will bring it there. So now that is why there is one in Roundup (May 4), Cut Bank (April 20), and Lewistown (March 30).
Now when I first announced I was doing a prom in Roundup Amanda Turley was the first to volunteer to help me out. And she may be the reason that Shake It For Kenzie actually became reality. She got me an interview with the Billings Gazette. There I told the reporter everything I wanted to do. Now the reporter must of thought this was a great idea because she called Zoo Montana here in Billings and talked to director and got the ball rolling for me. I can not even begin to thank the Zoo and Donna for all the help they have given me.
I have recently been advised to change the name of this event. I am torn and still do not know exactly what I will do, we shall see.
How I got the bands to play for free last year? I did not beg or anything like that..I just met really amazing human beings who wanted to help!
This year I plan on making this a HUGE event. Look for big announcements later...:)
Now before the accident I was a 24 year old (I turned 25 like 4 hours after I found out about the accident) who liked to have a good time and had no real responsibilities in life. This accident has changed my whole life. That is why I do these fundraisers not only to help my family out but to help raise money for a non-profit group HERE in Montana that helps raise awareness and helps with families that deal with this everyday.
Before this I couldn't tell you anything about a Traumatic Brain Injury. The heart ache I feel is overwhelming sometimes. I am sad and there are days that I cry because I can not take my cousin on a cousin road trip like we were planning on. I have come a long ways since the first day of the accident. But the pain never really goes away you just learn how to hide it better. This is why I continue to do these fundraisers. Yes raising money is important. Because yes my family still needs help. I will not get into details with what they face on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Kenzie is not in a hospital or nursing home anymore. She is at home. There is a lot of expenses. Remember Kenzie flew in a helicopter not once but twice and was taken by ambulance from Seattle to Great Falls. Those alone are HUGE expenses. Also all the money raised DOES NOT just go to my family a good portion of it goes to the Brain Association of Montana.
And if and when my family does not need the money anymore then all the proceeds that I make will go to the Brain Association. I never want anyone to forget Kenzie. I believe that she really was one of a kind. (but then again she is a Zarn ;) ) So I plan on continuing this, to keep "Kenzie" alive.
If anyone would like to be apart of any these fundraisers please contact me at ktzarn@gmail.com
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